Postal-car



(Model) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' 01R. HARRISON. I

.. Postal Car.

No. 236,328. Patented Jan 4,1881.

witnesses;- 7

N. PETERS. FHOm'I-ITHOGRAPHERI WASHINGTON D C (ModeL) I 3.8hets-Sheet 2.

Q. R. HARRISON} Postal Car.

No. 236,328. v Patented Jan. 4, 18.81.

(Model.) I: I v 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. O. R. HARRISON.

. Postal-Oar.

5 P a ten'ted Jan. 4,1881.

UNrTE STATES PATENT Erica.

CHARLES R. HARRISON, OF FOND DU LAO, WISCONSIN.

POSTAL-CAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 236,328, dated January 4, 1881.

Application filed June 16, 1880.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES R. HARRISON, of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, have invented new anduseful Improvements in the Apparatus and Furniture of Railway Postal-Oars, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement upon that set forth in Letters Patent granted to me April 18, 1879, numbered 214,036, and September 2,1879, numbered 219,155, for improvements in, the construction of railway postal-cars and it consists in further simplifying the internal arrangements of the car, so as to afford greater economy of space, and to enable the operations of mail distributing and delivering to be performed with greater rapidity.

My invention consists, partly, in combining with the central supporting extension-rods a portable single rod provided with hooks, to be used as an auxiliary bag-rack; further, in the manner of securing the rods forming the main bag-racks to their supporting-brackets; further, in the peculiar construction of hinge for the distributing-table; and, finally, in the combination, construction, and arrangement of the various operating parts, as fully hereinafter expressed.

1n the drawings accompanying this, Figure 1 represents a plan view. Fig. 2 represents the construction of the single-rod bag-rack.

' Fig. 3 shows the label-holder; Fig. 4, an end view of a bracket, showing the manner of connecting the rods composing the racks. Fig. 5 shows the peculiar hinge. Fig. 6 is a central longitudinal section.

A represents the extension-rod, supported by standards in the middle of the car, through which the rod can slide, or in which it can be held stationary by adjustable check-collars to. There are two of these rods Asupported by one standard, each adaptedto support an end of the adjustable tables.

Near the end of the rod A is pivoted the rod B, the opposite end of which is provided with an eye, and the side rod is furnished with a movable hook for connection therewith. By the longitudinal adjustment of the center rods, A,the rods B may be set at a greater or less distance from the main bag-racks at the end of the car, as may be desired. The rods (Model) Patented in Canada March 8, 1880.

B are provided with hooks, and thus form a portable auxiliary bag-rack, which may be swung down out of the way at any time when not in use.

. For economy in the use of the rods or gaspipe of which the wall-bag racks or frames are made, to avoid frequent cutting and facilitate the fitting and curving of the same, it is necessary to provide a secure but easily opened and closed device for attaching these rods to their brackets. This is accomplished by means of the recess-cap and bolt, as shown in Fig. 4. At each of the points of connection of the rods I cut in the top of the bracket a transverse recess, 0, of depth and shape to receive and fit the lower portion of the .rod. The rods are placed in this recess and covered and secured by the cap 0, fitting over the upper part of the rods, a bolt being passed through cap, rod, and bracket, and secured with a nut.

It isalso important, for the proper use of the portable drop-table, that its hinges should be so constructed as to form and operate either as a closed. clasp or as adouble open hook. For this purpose the adjustable hinge D consist-s of a bed-plate furnished at one end with an elevated half hook or ring, 61. this plate is'grooved longitudinally, and in this groove runs the slide cl, provided with a raised half hook or ring corresponding with that on the plate. A set-screw fixes the slide in any part of the plate-groove. When engaged the two half hooks or rings form a close ringclasp about the rod. When slid apart they form an open hook-hinge.

Single card-slides tacked close to bars are in common use for labeling mail-bags with names of their destinations.

My device for label holders, in connection with my mailcar or post-office distributingrac ts, consists of a grooved or slide plate, E, of sufficient length to hold one or more labels or cards, furnished on the bottom with one or more feet or lugs, which raise the plate sufficiently to allow the bag-hooks to slide and turn freely 011 the rod beneath the plate. These label-holders are fixed .to the rods by pins or screws through plate, lug, and rod. They are distributed at convenient intervals along the frame-rods, portable bag-racks, and single-rod racks, respectively, and inclined for- The surface of ward enough to present a direct view of the label and admit of free handling of the baghooks F by their nibs f. It will be seen that these plates or holders are raised to clear the bag-hooks and allow them to slide beneath the plate and adapt themselves to any desired place on the rods, and distributed, as aforesaid, each with its card or cards, labels, or tags. Thebag months or separations extend respectively, say, six, twelve, or eighteen inches. They will also span the corners or curves of the frame-rods, and so utilize such corners and curves for separations.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a postal-car, the combinatiomwith central extension-rods and side rods, of a rod, B, adapted for use as an auxiliary bag-rack.

2. In a postal-oar, the combination ,with the CHARLES l. HARRLSON.

Witnesses 10131". A. BAKER, tom. 0. BAKER. 

